The Advantages
of an All-Girls Education
TEXT Marty Lerner
I magine life for your daughter if she weren’t
afraid to speak up in class and felt free
to express herself. How would she thrive
surrounded by other girls who lifted her up and
encouraged her to be her best self?
At an all-girls school, a girl can find her voice and
uncover her full capabilities and potential. But the
advantages don’t stop there. All-girls schools create a
culture of academic achievement, self-discovery and
leadership that empower girls with a growth mindset
that is truly transformative.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Reports show that females perform better
academically in single-sex schools. A national study
of secondary schools and colleges by the National
Coalition of Girls’ Schools showed that single-sex
schools for females provide greater opportunity for
educational attainment as measured by standardized
cognitive tests, curriculum and course placement,
leadership behavior, number of years of formal
education and occupational achievement.

MOTIVATION AND ENGAGEMENT
In the all-girls environment, students are more
actively engaged. Girls are ready to take risks, get
involved and serve others. This kind of engagement
keeps girls motivated, helps them build confidence
and resilience and prepares them for life beyond
graduation. “There is something that sets us apart from the rest;
a certain fire for life and passion for creativity and
ingenuity,” says Antonia Freska, a recent graduate
from Oakcrest School, an all-girls school in McLean,
VA. “We do not limit ourselves. We go above and
beyond, and are not concerned with what is cool or
expected.” CHARACTER FORMATION
When combined with strong female mentors and
38 September 2016 washingtonFAMILY.com
When girls occupy every
leadership role at the
school—every part in the play,
every seat on the student
government, every position on every
team—they are given endless avenues for
self-exploration and development, and a
wealth of peer role models. They are not
hindered by sexual stereotyping and are
more apt to try new things and follow
their dreams.

- NATIONAL COALITION OF GIRLS’ SCHOOLS
positive role models, girls are further supported
and primed for success. Some all-girl schools offer
character development through unique mentoring
programs that pairs students with teachers.

CONFIDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE
Students in all-girl classrooms confidently voice
their opinions, ask thought-provoking questions and
embrace new learning experiences and opportunities.

They become accustomed to raising their hand and
being called upon. Girls then gain confidence through
competence and experience, a springboard for success
in college and beyond.

Marty Lerner is director of communications and events at
Oakcrest School in McLean, VA. To learn more about the
advantages of an all-girls school, visit oakcrest.org or call
703-790-5450. Sources:
• Single Sex Education: What Does Research Tell Us? by
Emer Smyth, Economic and Social Research Institute
• The Role of Single-Sex Education in the Academic
Engagement of College-Bound Women by Sax, Riggers,
and Egan at UCLA
• Women Graduates of Single-Sex and Coeducational
High Schools: Differences in their Characteristics and the
Transition to College by Linda J. Sax, Ph.D., UCLA